How do I fix a faucet that won’t shut off?

You turn the handle on your kitchen faucet, but it won’t turn off and the water keeps running. Is this happening to you? Well, your kitchen faucet may not have turned off for these 3 reasons:

• Your faucet handle is loose
• Your handle stem needs a new washer
• The seat of your handle needs to be replaced

All of these problems have relatively simple solutions, but they will require the right tools and plumbing knowledge. We’ll look at these 3 problems in more detail and how you can solve them.

Can’t do it yourself?

Don’t have time to read the rest? That’s fine, call a water leak detection service Paris 14 or a plumber near you to fix your faucet. But first, let’s stop the water flowing from your faucet. To turn off your water, follow these instructions:

Open your sink cabinet and look under your faucet.

You should see two valves mounted on the wall (one says “F” for cold, the other says “C” for hot). Turn them to the OFF position and the water should stop flowing.

Now let’s see why your kitchen faucet won’t turn off and how you can fix it.

Problem #1: Your faucet handle is loose

When you turn your handle, does it turn but never settle into one position?

This is a sign that your faucet handle is loose. The handles are connected to the stems with small threads that allow the handle to turn. Over time, these threads can corrode and strip, leaving your handle unable to control the water supply.

Solution

In most cases, you will simply need to replace the handle. We generally recommend replacing both handles at the same time so that you don’t have to worry about the other one failing sooner. In some cases, you may also need a new stem.

Since many handles are difficult to remove from your faucet (because they require a special wrench or are corroded into the faucet), you should contact a plumber to remove the handle and inspect it for stripped threads or Livry-Gargan water leaks.

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Problem #2: Your handle stem needs a new washer

The stem of your faucet uses a washer to distribute the pressure of the screw so that it doesn’t loosen over time. However, if a stem has not been lubricated, the washer can crack or tear, which means you cannot handle water.

Solution

Contact a plumber to remove your handle and inspect your stem to make sure it is well lubricated and has a working washer.

Problem #3: Your handle seat needs to be replaced

A faucet handle consists of a small piece called a seat that helps your handle turn. Over time, the stems of your handle wear out from regular use (think of how many times a day you turn on your faucet!).

Solution

You will need to contact a plumber to replace or at least smooth the seat of your handle.

Should I replace or simply repair my faucet?

Professional plumbers in Paris often hear this question.

Here’s what we recommend: If your faucet is relatively new (less than 7 to 10 years old) and you only have one of the problems listed above, don’t hesitate to have it repaired.

However, if your faucet is old (more than 10 years) or if you have more than one of the problems listed above, it is probably cheaper to get a new faucet. It can be difficult to find older faucet parts. So that’s another factor to consider.